IF YOU GO

Since the Tennessee Aquarium's Serve and Protect program was launched last summer, spokesman Thom Benson said that steady progress has been made in educating the community about sustainable seafood.

"It's really been fantastic," Benson said. "We've really been able to expand the reach."

On Tuesday, July 17, Bluewater Grille will host a dinner highlighting U.S.-caught and raised seafood. A similar dinner will take place Aug. 23 at Hennen's.

"These dinners are designed to expose people to things that they might have never tried before and the people have been overwhelmingly surprised and delighted by what they've had," said Benson. "In a number of ways, this is a neat thing for Chattanooga because it's given people a chance to learn about sustainable seafood, try something different, which is part of our message, and also celebrate the Chattanooga restaurant scene."

The Aquarium has been working with Food Network chef Alton Brown, who made an appearance in August 2011. At the time, he said Americans were guilty of "species targeting" -- not eating a diverse enough range of seafood. During the first year, the Serve and Protect program focused on five species: rainbow trout, farm-raised catfish, oysters, yellowtail snapper and American lobster.

Brown recorded cell phone audio stops to help visitors to the aquarium learn more about sustainable seafood.

"Rainbow trout, farm raised locally, just a county away is one of the most versatile fish you can cook in a pan or in a smoker," he says on one recording.

Brown also helped to develop recipes that are featured on the Aquarium's website. Benson said he's enjoyed the trout burgers and that even his wife, who is generally averse to seafood, has found recipes she's enjoyed.

The hope, he said, is that after visiting the Aquarium and learning about the different species, people would go to local restaurants and ask questions before trying something new, then would try to cook dishes with U.S. raised sustainable seafood at home.

"You can become that culinary hero in your own kitchen," Benson said, "with a little bit of help from Alton Brown."